Congenital heart conditions are a common medical issue that affects millions of people around the world. These conditions can range from harmless to life-threatening, depending on the severity of the diagnosis.

Several medical treatments are available to manage these conditions, but sometimes, surgery is the only option to cure them. In this article, we will discuss a unique surgical intervention for a congenital heart condition performed at Onassis Expert Heart Centre.

About Congenital Heart Condition

Congenital heart conditions result from structural defects that occur in the heart during fetal growth. These defects could affect the heart’s chambers, walls, valves, or blood vessels.

Congenital heart conditions can be mild to severe, and the symptoms can vary based on the type and severity of the defect. Some of the common symptoms of congenital heart conditions include:.

Rapid breathing or shortness of breath
Fatigue during physical activity
Dizziness or fainting spells
Cyanosis (bluish tint to the skin, lips, or fingernails)
Chest pain
Swelling in the legs, abdomen, or areas around the eyes

The Innovative Surgical Intervention

At Onassis Heart Centre, a team of experienced cardiac surgeons and medical professionals devised an innovative surgical intervention to cure congenital heart conditions.

This surgical intervention utilizes an ingenious technique whereby the surgeon creates a tissue bridge between the aorta and the pulmonary artery.

The procedure starts with an incision in the chest’s upper area, through which the surgeon exposes the heart and accesses the ascending aorta and pulmonary artery.

The surgeon first disconnects the pulmonary artery from the right ventricle and then creates a small opening in the wall of the pulmonary artery and aorta. A bridge is then constructed between the two vessels using a tissue graft. This bridge allows oxygenated blood to flow from the aorta through the graft and into the pulmonary artery.

The surgical intervention is typically performed under general anesthesia and can take several hours, depending on the complexity of the condition.

The recovery period varies from patient to patient, but most patients can expect to stay in the hospital for a few days to a week following the surgery. The medical team will closely monitor the patient’s progress and ensure that there are no complications post-surgery.

Benefits of the Innovative Surgical Intervention

The innovative surgical intervention created by the Onassis Heart Centre offers several advantages over traditional surgical methods.

The biggest benefit is that this surgical intervention can cure congenital heart defects that were previously considered untreatable. The intervention is particularly useful for patients diagnosed with severe pulmonary artery stenosis, a condition that causes the pulmonary artery to narrow and reduces blood flow to the lungs.

The surgical intervention also has fewer complications, is less time-consuming, and causes less post-operative pain than traditional surgical methods.

Patients have quicker recovery times and can return to normal activity sooner than with traditional methods. The surgical intervention also improves the patient’s quality of life, reduces the risk of cardiac arrest or heart failure, and provides them with a higher life expectancy.

Patient Experience

The Onassis Heart Centre’s innovative surgical intervention has transformed the lives of many patients. One such patient is Sophie, who was diagnosed with pulmonary artery stenosis at the age of 15.

The condition severely affected her daily routine and caused her to experience shortness of breath and fatigue even with minimal activity.

After diagnosis, Sophie was referred to Onassis Heart Centre and underwent the innovative surgical intervention. Sophie recalled the process as seamless and painless, and she was back home within a week.

She now experiences an improved quality of life, can perform daily activities without fatigue, and is no longer hindered by pulmonary artery stenosis.

Conclusion

Congenital heart conditions can be life-threatening, and effective surgical interventions are crucial to manage and cure them.

The innovative surgical intervention performed at Onassis Heart Centre is an excellent example of how medical science and technology can come together to offer groundbreaking treatments to patients. This surgical intervention is less invasive, has fewer complications, and provides patients with better long-term outcomes.

The Onassis Heart Centre’s innovative surgical intervention can positively impact the lives of millions of people worldwide.